Perceptual grouping and attention during cortical form and motion processing

Abstract

This article summarizes three examples of how the cerebral cortex achieves analog coherence and complementary fusion in its processing of visual information. Analog coherence refers to the need to reconcile two processing capabilities that often seem to be at odds. The brain needs analog sensitivity to distributed visual data to measure the relative importance of different combinations of features. It needs coherent processing of analog data to actively select the correct data grouping while suppressing less active groupings, yet coherent processing tends to be binary processing. This article suggests how the visual cortex balances both tendencies to achieve their best properties in examples of form and motion grouping. The article also suggests how the complementary strengths of form and motion processing are merged through form-motion interactions.